If you’re like me, you enjoy cooking with your Crock-Pot. No matter what you put into this magical cooking device, everything tastes good. Perhaps it has something to do with the slow process of cooking the food slowly and allowing it to simmer and the spices to co-mingle.

In recent weeks, I have taken on an additional load of freelance copywriting work. I feel grateful for this, but there are times when the blank page feels daunting. There are also moments when reading my own writing becomes tricky. Spend too much time writing (and reading what you’ve written) and you can quickly lose perspective. The ability to detect the quality of your own writing gets blurred.

One solution to this situation is to let your writing simmer. Lately, I have decided, after completing a piece of writing, to get away. Perhaps this means taking a walk, grabbing something to eat or even getting a good night’s sleep. I find that when I return, I can finish the all-important last 20 percent of the job. This last bit includes some last-minute edits…and from firsthand experience, this is the work that makes the writing sparkle.

Whether you’re a blogger, copywriter or a student writing an essay…do yourself a favor and don’t wait until the last possible moment to complete your written assignment. Get it done early and let it simmer so you can take the time to edit your work. I’m confident your writing will take a huge leap in quality…and your readers will love you.

How about you…have you taken a different approach to become a better writer? If so, what was it?

This is another in a series of re-posts and was originally published on the early version of this blog on July 29, 2009.

Whether you’re looking for a job, looking for love or looking to make the sale, one thing can help you on your quest – confidence. Finding confidence, however, is no easy task. Over the years, I’ve always been amazed and amused that men’s shaving products have been sold to us as a source of confidence (see below):

I like this commercial (as well as a close shave), but the fourth blade on my razor is not going to give me the extra confidence to introduce myself to that woman that I’m infatuated with. It’s not going to help me make the winning basket to win the championship game.

According to Webster’s Ninth Collegiate Dictionary, confidence is “a faith or belief that one will act in a right, proper, or effective way.” It also describes confidence as, “the quality or state of being certain.”

I am not an expert on confidence, but a student. However there is one tip that, to me, stands out when it comes to having more confidence. You can call it the law of attraction approach to confidence: it is to act as if you have the confidence already.

Like everyone, I’ve had moments where my confidence has been tested. But, I’m happy to say that acting as if has helped me in those circumstances. I noticed a distinct improvement in my confidence overall when I acted as if I were confident. It is important to remember that your level of confidence is constantly changing and different situations and circumstances will have an effect on your confidence. Unfortunately, you cannot leave the confidence switch “on” because it always seems to shut itself off by itself from time to time.

In the introduction to his book, The Confidence Course, Walter Anderson asked his friend Dr. Norman Vincent Peale how to achieve a life of confidence. His answer: “Be one hundred percent alive.”

We are living at a time when we humans will spend an endless amount of money for clothes, plastic surgery, cars, and other unnecessary items all in the name of feeling good about ourselves and gaining confidence. If you’re looking for a boost of confidence, start within before spending all of your money.

As I reflected again a couple days ago on Labor Day, the world of work is changing, evolving. I’ve known this, felt this, since getting laid off well over a year ago (and in previous layoffs). And while getting laid off can be a big blow to your wallet, it’s also a huge blow to the ego. Thankfully, watching Lemonade again on the Documentary Channel on Monday – I was reminded again of the tremendous upside to getting laid off.

Quite simply, Linchpin is a manifesto about how the world of work has changed and outlines strategies on how we can not only survive in this new environment, but also to thrive in it.

Gone are the days when we could go to work, do what we’re told and wait until retirement for the time we can collect on all that is “promised” and live the good life. Also gone are the days at work when fitting in, following the rules and being average are looked upon favorably.

Godin reminds us, time and time again throughout Linchpin, that we need to become indispensable – someone so good and remarkable that companies would not and could not replace us. He also encourages us to summon our creativity and passion in order to help us look at our work as art. At one point Godin says:

“Artists understand that they have the power, through gifts, innovation, and love to create a new story, one that’s better than the old one.”

He stresses that, as artists, we need “to ship” – that is to finish all those projects that we’re working on and that we’ve started. Not shipping, Godin feels, is allowing your resistance to win. Hearing that, I’m reminded of all the things I’ve been thinking about doing. But I digress…

This also leads to the lizard brain, the part of our mind that wants to play it safe, be comfortable and cares too much about what others think. The lizard brain, as Godin puts it, is the source of resistance.

I liked that Godin includes suggestions on how to get past our lizard brain and resistance. We can start by giving away gifts – it could be our art, expertise or our energy – to others. This gift may or may not be reciprocated, but ultimately leads to healthy self-expression and joy. There are plenty of other suggestions in this area, as well.

Godin stresses that being a linchpin is not easy. It’s often met with great resistance from within and from others – but it can lead to a greater sense of passion, happiness and satisfaction. And as I sit here recalling conversations with workers who didn’t like their jobs or felt under-appreciated, becoming a linchpin seems worth the effort.

I highly recommend this book if you’re looking to take your career to the next level, make a career change or increase your job satisfaction.

I’ve been a huge fan of blogger Christine Kane for a couple years. When I first discovered her blog, I was amazed at all of the great bits of wisdom that she dispensed. Not only is she a talented blogger and performer (I’ve seen her live and she’s great), but she’s also a creativity consultant and success coach.

One of the things that she’s done the last couple years with her blog readers is to have them pick a word for the year. In her original post, she called it “Resolution Revolution.” No, this is not a new year’s resolution…its more like a personal mantra. According to her blog, this one word is a “way of setting intention for (the) whole year.”

This month, she’s featuring guest posts from her readers who chose a word for this year. Some examples of these words include: rejoice, change, courage, confidence, gratitude, love, clarity, peace, joy, beauty and creativity. Chances are, there’s a word out there that describes how you want to approach the new year.

This “one word” thing is brilliant because I don’t really believe in new year’s resolutions or even new year’s goals. I’ve tried ’em before and they are forgotten by February or early March. I also witness the onslaught of new members at my YMCA every January, only to see many of them invisible in a few months.

This year, as the new year approaches, it is my intention to choose a word for 2010. It’s a word that, I hope, will sort of guide me through the year during good times and bad. My word: LAUGHTER.

I’ve got a confession to make: I don’t laugh enough. I may think I do, but I know I should be laughing more. Yeah, we all have challenges and things that bring us down. But I feel committed to really LMAO in 2010 no matter what is happening in my life. I’m not talking giggles, I’m talking big, hearty belly laughs (even though my heartiest laughs tend to be quiet).

This might mean that I have to revisit some of my favorite funny movies including Spinal Tap, Austin Powers, Airplaine!, Naked Gun, Borat and Jackass! (I know, this is really stupid, but I can’t help laughing hysterically when I see it). I’ll likely be listening to some of my favorite comedians such as Mitch Hedberg, Bill Cosby, George Carlin, Chris Rock and Steven Wright.

I also realize that some of the funniest moments we can experience are the ones that happen right in front of us all the time. Its a matter of having the right attitude and awareness.

UPDATE 12/26: I just noticed that Chris Brogan mentioned that he usually selects three words for the year, which is another very cool idea similar to Christine Kane’s one word for the year. To check out Chris’ post on this subject, including a recap of words he chose in 2008 and 2009, check out today’s post called “Wiring Yourself for Success”. Hmm, I may need to add to my one word….